Ophelia looked between her brother and Primrose as they had just laid something massive on her.
Tom Riddle. The Great Love of her life, had murdered Richard McKenna, one of her best friends, and Carl Spencer-Moon, the most caring man on the planet, for the singular crime of loving her.
Ophelia externalized herself from her body. Disassociating from reality. She shut her eyes as their voices faded around her.
She blamed herself. My God did she blame herself. But she didn't want to think about that.
Ophelia opened her eyes slowly to see the pages of research pasted onto a Bristol board with a picture of Tom's face in the middle connecting him to a plethora of crimes.
Now, if Ophelia was healthy, she'd likely be crying her eyes out and allowing her best friend and her brother to comfort her.
Instead she appreciated the research in the poster, the presentation, the powerful way the presentation was delivered. She looked to the golden yarn connecting the crimes.
Golden. The colour and its association to her seemed to be slowly dragging her back into reality. She bit her lip and ran a finger over the burn mark on her wrist.
The twinge of pain was the least of what she deserved. The reason Carl died, and Ricky died was her. Because she'd broken their hearts. (Ophelia didn't actually believe that she broke Ricky's heart but everyone else seemed to).
Ophelia hadn't been enough for Tom. So now all this was happening because she'd failed.
Ophelia Marigold has failed the world. That was a depressing thought. Ophelia could barely even stand the thought of who he'd grow to be. A monster.
Ophelia should have stayed with him, she should have pulled him away from it all by any means necessary. Ophelia felt like there was this massive weight on her chest, almost like a boa constrictor around her heart.
Her previously pure heart, now darkened with sin.
Ophelia had come a long way from who she was when she was first placed on rounds with Tom Riddle.
She swore a lot less. I guess when she got older and people stopped treating her like a cute little bunny she didn't really need it anymore.
Ophelia used to never get drunk, and now Jason and his infinite number of concoctions seemed her relief from her day to day tragedy.
Ophelia had a thing for saving the damned, but at what point did she become the damned?
"Lia?"
"Where's dad?" Asked Ophelia,
"No one told you?" Asked Henry, and Ophelia froze,
"No." Said Ophelia, and Henry had to actually turn away from her, "What is it? Henry? Where's dad?"
"Lili, your dad tried to get out." Said Primrose, "Tried to take you with him and us Grindelwald got to him."
"Personally?" Asked Ophelia, her big golden eyes wide as she pressed her thumb into the previously healed burn mark,
"What does it matter?" Asked Primrose,
"Answer the damn question." Said Ophelia, trying to take deep breaths, "Please."
"Personally." Said Primrose, and Ophelia's face fell,
"But I didn't even do anything wrong! I'm so tired of him killing people," said Ophelia, "He can't treat me like he cares and then just murder my fucking family."
Ophelia was desperate, it felt like she couldn't do anything right. Ophelia couldn't get out of her life so her dad had tried to do it for her, and he died for loving her.
Everyone died for loving her. Ophelia shut her eyes tightly,
"What do you mean cares?"
"He took me to a Waffle House. It was minorly pleasant." Said Ophelia, "I can't believe this."
"Can't you?" Asked Henry,
"No, you don't understand. Everyone who cares is either lying or dies for it. I just want one person. One fucking person who I'm not afraid will die or become a dark lord who loves me. And I'm so scared all the time that that one of you are going to die because of me, and I'm scared that he'll figure out I'm tight with Jason and kill him, and I just I'm scared that he'll take Lita away from me, and my fiancé hurts me, and the boy I wanted to spend my life with seems to not care about me as a person, and I'm scared, okay?"
Henry faced her and hugged her again, practically crushing her,
"I'm not going to die." Said Henry,
"Oh fuck did you make a Horcrux to I swear to God!" Said Ophelia, her breath shaky,
"No, no, I'm just too stubborn to die." Said Henry, "Ask Prim about how stubborn I am with the dishes."
"Stubborn as a bloody ox," said Primrose,
"Why does the Ox have to be bloody. That's a tad grafic," said Ophelia,
"So is the mess your stupid brother makes when he cooks." Said Primrose, Gently, as though the words of how happy they were and the domestic happiness they shared together would break Ophelia's heart,
But you can't really break something that's already broken.
Ophelia sat back down, eying the golden yarn connecting it all,
"You did a very good job on the aesthetics of this presentation." Said Ophelia, "I'm going to kill Grindelwald."
"Don't take his life." Said Henry, and Ophelia narrowed her eyes, "You won't be able to live it down,"
"Whenever I read those books as a kid where the main character comes face to face with their villain and goes through a moral dilemma pondering whether or not to kill them, I just want to yell at them. But now it's my turn. This is my demon. Maybe something to weaken him." Said Ophelia, looking at the ground,
"Weakening is better than killing, and then he can be beaten and put in jail." Said Primrose, exchanging a rather worried look with Henry,
"And for what it's worth I hope he drops a bar of soap in the shower every day he's in there," said Henry,
—
Ophelia was cooking. A batch of chocolate chip cookies. With each fold in the batter she felt as though she were personally punching Grindelwald across the face.
How dare he take her father from her. Her FATHER. And not even tell her about it. He deserved to have the block on his magic, this potion would induce.
She had hidden it in the vanilla, she couldn't wait until he couldn't use his magic. She'd sent a patronus to Dumbledore telling him to hurry the fuck up with the duelling thing.
Ophelia hadn't used a memory of Tom. For whatever reason it was all catching up to her now. All of it. She would be going from the care of one dark lord to another. And after everything he had done?
Ophelia used a memory of Lolita. The night of Slughorn's Christmas party.
"Rose?" Came a voice on the other side of the door,
"Come in, darling," said Ophelia, and in walked Andrew, dressed in a suit,
"Do you like this suit for my Bachelor party? One of The last nights where I am a free man?" Asked Andrew, teasing as he walked over to her,
"It'll go nicely with the ball and chain I plan on giving you," she quipped and he chuckled, planting a kiss on her cheek,
"What's all this?" He asked, gesturing to the kitchen,
"Just stress baking. My brother is coming into town for the wedding you know?" She asked,
"Do I need to try and impress him?" Asked Andrew, his arm around her waist, holding Ophelia in place next to him as she set the bowl down,
"You won't need to try very hard. You're a rather impressive man, darling," said Ophelia, getting sick of her English accent, he kissed her lips,
"Save me one," he said, before smacking her arse lightly, and going to the kitchen table,
Ophelia wasn't particularly against the arse smacks. She just didn't like that they were coming from him.
This one wouldn't die though. She wouldn't allow it. Andrew was not the best, but he had a lot to offer the world as a musician, and she would be damned if she let another creative soul get claimed from the Earth because of her,
"I thought I'd take you out to lunch," said Andrew, "But if you're busy we could eat here,"
"I'd love that." Said Ophelia, as she begun to put the balls of batter onto the cooking sheet,
She even smiled a little bit.
Freedom was only a cookie or two away.
—
Lolita and Ophelia were sitting in front of Grindelwald as he pocketed the cookies. Lolita was holding Ophelia's hand beneath the table. She appreciated the gesture.
"You two have done remarkably well," said Grindelwald,
"We do our best." Said Lolita sarcastically,
"Well, I certainly hope you'll bring those attitudes to Italy next month," said Grindelwald, handing them each a file, missing how their hands had been connected beneath the table,
"Aren't you scared Dumbledore May get to you before then?" Asked Lolita, and Ophelia snuck a glance at her,
"No. I am more powerful than I've ever been." Said Grindelwald, as the two girls in front of him opened their files, "You, Ophelia are from Brooklyn and will be playing Lavender Morello. I'm telling you now so that you can perfect your accent."
"Right." Said Ophelia, "Out of curiosity, what's with the flower themed names?"
"Well your name is Ophelia and I wanted to do the flowers from your character's bouquet as she dies but that just seemed cruel," said Grindelwald, and Ophelia froze, looking at him,
"And you wouldn't want to be cruel would you." Said Ophelia, and Lolita looked a little worried, but then Grindelwald laughed and she eased,
"Lolita you are her cousin, Camilla from Rome showing her around," said Grindelwald, as he stood up, "I'm leaving you so that you may get ready for your wedding. Best wishes, Marigold."
"Thank you." She replied, as he apparatus out of her flat,
"Are you an idiot?" Lolita practically yelled, but then Ophelia was hugging her, tightly,
"Yes." She said, "I'm an idiot and I can't lose anyone else I need this all to end."
Lolita hesitantly huffed her back, and stroked her hair gently,
"What happened?"
"I'm done with dark lords." Said Ophelia,
"You mean-"
"All dark lords. Future and present." Said Ophelia, breathing in the scent of Lolita's truly magnificent perfume, "Where do you get your perfume? It is fabulous."
"Don't worry about it." Said Lolita, hugging the shaking Ophelia tighter, "It's going to be alright."
"As long as we're together."
—
It was her bachelorette party. Jason was there, Lolita was there, Primrose was there. Ophelia was sitting on the beach high as a kite, as they freaked the fuck out over tides.
"It just keeps coming back I don't understand!" Said Jason,
"Don't worry it's leaving again." Said Primrose, as she played with Ophelia's hair,
"Prim, make it stop." Said Jason, currently hiding behind Lolita,
"The only thing that can do that is the moon, querido," said Lolita, staring at the bright full moon in the sky,
"Then become the fucking moon." Said Jason,
"I can't do that." Said Lolita,
"That's rough, buddy." Said Ophelia, looking over at her,
"Let me try!" Said Primrose, clenching her eyes shut and trying to will herself to become the moon,
"Are you becoming the moon or taking a shit?" Asked Lolita, and Ophelia laughed,
"Technically." She said, standing up warily, "The moon is space poop, that space just pooped out."
"Out of its butt?" Asked Jason, and Ophelia nodded,
"Out of its butt." Said Ophelia, and Primrose pulled her back down before she could get to the water, "But I wanted to see a fish. Or oh, be just like Ophelia!"
"So, that's enough pot for Lia." Said Jason, as Ophelia sat down next to Primrose again,
"But I have so much more, POTential," said Ophelia and they all collectively groaned, "You didn't have to be so Blunt with your joint reaction,"
"You are lucky you are so cute, Mi Amore," said Lolita,
"I'm cuter." Pouted Jason,
"You sure are," said Ophelia, before kissing him on the cheek, "But Lita is the most beautiful woman to ever exist ever."
"What about me?" Asked Primrose,
"You are the best human period." Said Ophelia, "Hey guys? What's the deal with balloons?"
"They're festive." Said Primrose,
"But like why? They are sacks of air." Said Ophelia, as Jason begin conjuring balloons, and she laughed, "Oh they're FUN. NY."
"I like balloons." Said Primrose, "They are festive and cheerful, and make sure you vanish those because turtles."
—
Ophelia and Lolita were stumbling back to their respective flats drunk. Ophelia continued to look at her and Lolita sighed, giggles pouring from her lips,
"What?" Asked Lolita, as she walked to Ophelia,
"You're just so pretty," said Ophelia, having to lean on the wall next to her door to keep from falling over,
"Really? You think?" Asked Lolita,
"When I met you I thought you were the most amazing woman I'd ever met," said Ophelia, putting a hand on Lolita's shoulder, "And then I trusted you and you pulled me into all this, but I couldn't be mad at you for whatever reason cause like, you're there for me and I need you in my life and some part of me wants all his stuff to end so we can just be togeth-"
Lolita kissed her. It was chaste and quick, and when she pulled away Ophelia's eyes were closed and her cheeks were positively crimson,
"I'm, I didn't me-" Ophelia cut her off this time, pressing her lips to Lolita's feeling something she'd never actually felt before.
It was so easy.
Loving Tom had always been so complicated. Ophelia barely even grounded herself on a moral compass anymore, because well look at her life.
She was a con artist who specialized in building fabulous lives with men and then tearing them apart. She was working on the wrong side of the war, and was in love with a future dark lord,
Was.
"I um, really feel like we should do that more often," was all Ophelia could say, and Lolita began to laugh like really hard,
"You just kissed me, like what is it you brits say? A proper snog," said Lolita,
"You kissed me first." Said Ophelia childishly, "And I am Irish." She pouted, looking at the ground, Lolita put her arms on either side of Ophelia, and kissed her again,
"I'm sorry." Said Lolita, as Ophelia kissed her again, "You're my favourite mafia boss. Happy now?"
"I prefer don. I feel the whole mafia boss thing has been coopted by the Russians." Said Ophelia, just wanting to feel a healthy attraction for once in her damned life,
"Don Ophelia Marigold," said Lolita, "Happy now?"
"Immensely," said Ophelia, kissing her again, "How do I tell Andrew I snogged my maid of honour?"
"I think we should just give him a demonstration," said Lolita,
"His family will love that."
"Kinky." Said Lolita and Ophelia burst out laughing, "Mi Amor,"
"Lita," replied Ophelia, kissing her again, "You make me happy."
—
It was Ophelia Marigold's wedding day. She looked at herself in the mirror, and then her future mother in law burst through the door,
"Ah, Rose, you look gorgeous. My son is such a lucky man," said Mrs Archibald, bustling around the room, and adjusting quite literally everything there was to be adjusted,
"Thank you, Mrs-"
"None of that. It's mum now," said Mrs Archibald, and Ophelia felt a pit grow in her stomach at the memory of Mrs Spencer-Moon, and how devastated she must have been over Carl's death,
"Thank you, Mum," said Ophelia, figetting with her bouquet,
"I just came in to tell you that, the caterers are only halfway done setting up so stretch those vows, and when is that brother of yours arriving?"
"He was meant to be here fifteen minutes ago, but he has a tendency to be late," said Ophelia, and she heard a commotion going on outside,
"Don't worry about that, dear just people celebrating," said Mrs Archibald, "And if your brother doesn't make it I'll have Mister Archibald walk you down the aisle,"
"I appreciate that," said Ophelia, as a knock came at the door, Ophelia knitted her eyebrows together but Mrs Archibald scolded her,
"None of that, dear, I'll take care of whatever this is, this is your day. I don't care if a wars just ended." Said Mrs Archibald and Ophelia froze,
"What do you mean?"
"Grindelwald, dear, hes in Azkaban, the ministries of magic are rounding up the last of his supporters as we speak. A day in history." Said Mrs Archibald,
"I'm just going to go to the powder room." Said Ophelia, walking into the powder room, and sending Lolita a patronus, to meet her in the park,
"Is Ophelia Marigold in there?" She heard a British voice ask, and Ophelia froze,
"She most certainly is not." Said Mrs Archibald, "Now it is my son's wedding day and I don't appreciate it being interrupted like this. I'm sure I can make it worth your while to postpone this little investigation of yours."
"Is Rose soon to be Archibald in there?" Asked The man and Ophelia gripped her wand in the pocket of her dress as she opened the window of the washroom, and climbed out onto the grass,
She was at the back of the event hall on Central Park and she began to run.
Ophelia hiked up her dress and ran away from her wedding day,
People turned to look at the run away bride but she didn't care, she didn't care until she saw a witch with dark hair and the most glorious Spanish accent near the met, but as Ophelia drew nearer she spotted another man with her.
The last person Ophelia wanted to see right now.
Tom Riddle.